Book Launch Day with Loucinda McGary

Today, we’re celebrating Loucinda McGary’s latest release, Dead Girl in a Green Dress! An avid traveler, the locales of her novels are a result of places she’s visited. A trip to Mackinac Island sets the stage for her latest release. Two lucky commenters will win a copy of her book.

Congratulations on your latest release, Loucinda!

BIG thanks to all the great folks here at RU for allowing me to celebrate the launch of my newest novel Dead Girl in a Green Dress!

Ever since I first saw the gorgeous and romantic movie Somewhere In Time, I wanted to visit Mackinac Island. In case you haven’t seen it, the film is a time-travel romance in which a writer (played by a very young Christopher Reeve) goes back to 1912 in search of the woman he loves (an equally young Jane Seymour). And most of the action takes place at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

For those who don’t know, Mackinac Island (pronounced mack-in-naw) is a quaint little island of about 500 inhabitants located between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas in Lake Huron. The only way to get to the island is via ferry. One of the most notable things about the island, besides its numerous fudge shops, is that the only means of transportation is bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. Even taxis are horse-drawn!

A couple of years ago, when the DH and I started to plan our spring vacation, he brought up the Great Lakes area and I immediately said, “Mackinac Island!” So in May, 2011 we found ourselves on the ferry headed back in time… well, as close as you can come to the 19th century without forsaking all modern conveniences. (I want my hot running water and electric appliances, thank you very much!)

We took a tour of the island in a carriage that held 35 people not counting the driver, and pulled by a three horse team. Yes, these are incredibly strong horses! Most of the horses used on the island are Percherons, and the teams are matched for size and color. I enjoyed the leisurely pace, and it was fun imagining what life was like back in the 1890s. I lost count of how many times I said to the DH, “This place would be a great setting for a story!”

Fast-forward to a few months ago, I was ready to start a new work-in-progress and decided to set the story on Mackinac Island. Like my previous books, Dead Girl in a Green Dress is a contemporary romantic suspense novel. But it’s set amidst the quaint charm of Victorian bed & breakfasts and horse drawn carriages. Of course, there are my usual elements of murder and mayhem present as well.

Byrony Long’s younger sister Jessica had a summer job working on Mackinac Island. But at the end of the season, Jessica is found dead, the victim of an apparent mugging. Frustrated because local authorities don’t seem motivated to solve the case, Byrony hires a private investigator, Tate Madison, to help her learn the truth about her sister’s death. As tensions mount, so does the attraction between Tate and Byrony. They also very quickly learn that Jessica was murdered, and the killer won’t hesitate to silence them permanently.

Dead Girl in a Green Dress is my seventh published work since 2008 and my fourth Indie published e-book. Thank you for joining me today to celebrate its release! I hope you enjoy the trip back to a bygone era on Mackinac Island.

I’ll give away free downloads of Dead Girl in a Green Dress(your choice of Nook, Kindle, or pdf versions) to two randomly chosen commenters today. Thanks again to RU for hosting me and celebrating my book launch!

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Have you ever been to a place that made you feel you’d stepped back in time? Please share your experiences!

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We hope you’ll join us on Friday, June 7th, when Handsome Hansel presents Passion Needs Compassion.

Bio: A Golden Heart finalist, Loucinda McGary is the author of three contemporary romantic suspense novels, The Wild Sight, The Treasures of Venice and The Wild Irish Sea. Her later books, The Sidhe Prince, High Seas Deception, and His Reluctant Bodyguard, are available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.

For more information about Loucinda, please check out her website and her blog.

Loucinda – Congratulations on your new release! I got it for my Nook. Now all I need is some time to read.

All the years I lived in the Midwest, and I’ve never been to Mackinac Island. And I’m embarrassed to admit, I thought Mackinaw Island was another island up there! One year when we don’t have wall-to-wall family weddings I’d like to go there. In the meantime, I’ll visit through your book!

I have friends who honeymooned on Mackinac Island – their pictures were fabulous! I never really thought of going there on vacation, mainly because our vacations usually involve going to see members of the family. So far, no one lives up there!

Hi Lucinda! Congratulations!!
I lived in MI for 10 years and Mackinac Island was our annual trip. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and that 8 mile bike path around the island is etched on my soul.
I haven’t watched Somewhere in Time, but it’s amazing that more movies haven’t been shot there.
Can’t wait to read your book,
Sonali

Lucky you, Sonali! I’d love to go back to Mackinac! It truly is gorgeous in the spring, and I’m sure summer and fall are nice too. Winter… not so sure. I know the lake freezes and that sounds mighty cold to me!

Please let me know how you like DGGD and if you think I captured Mackinac correctly.

I’m working on my the first book in my own (so far unpublished) travel/ mystery series ( Dead Girl sure sounds like a mystery!)so I’ll be sure to take a look at yours. Always looking for authors in this (sub) genre.
thanks for the background.
Judy Hudson

Hey Jen,
Thank you again for inviting me to celebrate my launch here at RU! I’m glad you enjoy my settings. I admit, the “research” is great. 😉

No, I didn’t start thinking specifically about DGGD when I was visiting Mackinac. I was writing one of my cruise books then. I actually came up with the premise of DGGD and then decided Mackinac would be the perfect setting.

I never know when I’m visiting a place how or when it might show up in one of my stories. Wish I were more organized, but that’s just not my process. HA!

I’ve been to Mackinac Island many times and I have to say that it was much better 20 years ago than it is now. It’s so commercialized now and not as quaint (IMO). Still, it is an extremely romantic place once you get past the tourist trap area. I would love to live on the island! I’ve never had the pleasure of staying at the Grand but it’s on my bucket list. This book will definitely be on my kindle!